Politics – Newsculthttp://newscult.com
Real Writers. Real Opinions. No Boundaries.Sun, 18 Nov 2018 17:15:52 +0000en-UShourly1https://wordpress.org/?v=4.8.2https://i0.wp.com/newscult.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/cropped-News-Cult-Icon.png?fit=32%2C32Politics – Newsculthttp://newscult.com
323279445077Donald Trump is going to visit the U.K. in Mid-Julyhttp://newscult.com/donald-trump-going-visit-u-k-mid-july/
Tue, 01 May 2018 17:30:23 +0000http://newscult.com/?p=216026According to Sky sources, U.S. president, Donald Trump will be visiting U.K. in mid-July. It has been reported that it will be a low-key working visit. The president was supposed to open the new U.S. Embassy in London in February but he canceled the trip explaining that the building was very pricey and tweeted that […]

According to Sky sources, U.S. president, Donald Trump will be visiting U.K. in mid-July. It has been reported that it will be a low-key working visit.

The president was supposed to open the new U.S. Embassy in London in February but he canceled the trip explaining that the building was very pricey and tweeted that he didn’t like the fact that its location was being changed.

It has been reported that the president told U.K. Prime Minister, Theresa May at the World Economic Forum in Davos that he would be visiting the U.K. this summer and May invited Trump for a state visit when she visited him in the White House in January 2017.

This would be Trump’s first trip to the U.K. since he was elected in November 2016. However, Britons don’t seem very happy about the news and around 1.8 million people signed a petition demanding that the President should not be allowed to make a state visit to the UK.

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan who has frequently clashed with the president also spoke about his visit and said that if Mr. Trump visits U.K., he should expect calm protests in the capital and told the Press Association: “We have got a great history in our city of protests.

“We have got a great history in our city of bringing about change by protest, the key thing is for it to be lawful, for it to be peaceful.”

]]>216026Meeting Between CIA Director, Mike Pompeo and Kim Jong Un in North Korea Confirmedhttp://newscult.com/meeting-between-cia-director-mike-pompeo-and-kim-jong-un-in-north-korea-confirmed/
Fri, 20 Apr 2018 15:46:18 +0000http://newscult.com/?p=215918Donald Trump confirmed on Wednesday that the leader of North Korea met with Mike Pompeo, earlier this month. Pompeo is the current CIA director and is awaiting confirmation as secretary of state. The president spoke of this event on twitter saying “Meeting went very smoothly an a good relationship was formed…” .Trump went on to […]

]]>WASHINGTON, DC – FEBRUARY 13: Central Intelligence Agency Director Mike Pompeo testifies before the Senate Intelligence Committee in the Hart Senate Office Building on Capitol Hill February 13, 2018 in Washington, DC. The intelligence chiefs were called to testify to the committee about ‘world wide threats.’ (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Donald Trump confirmed on Wednesday that the leader of North Korea met with Mike Pompeo, earlier this month. Pompeo is the current CIA director and is awaiting confirmation as secretary of state. The president spoke of this event on twitter saying “Meeting went very smoothly an a good relationship was formed…” .Trump went on to talk about how denuclearization of the region was in the works, and that it will be a great thing for the world, including north Korea.
The CIA director’s secret trip have been let out only shortly after South Korea confirmed that officials were in talks with each other about ending the conflict on the Korean peninsula that has dominated the region for almost seven decades. Though, this peace deal will be much easier said than done.
Any peace deal that the two can come up with would also need the approval of the U.N. and China. This is because both parties are signatories to the 1953 armistice, which put a halt to the violence between the two, instead of ending the violence completely.

]]>215918GoFundMe for Former FBI Deputy Director Sees $250K in 6 Hourshttp://newscult.com/gofundme-former-fbi-deputy-director-sees-250k-6-hours/
Fri, 30 Mar 2018 18:20:28 +0000http://newscult.com/?p=215742In 2018, political figures are crowdfunding money for legal fees and everyone’s OK with that. WTF? A GoFundMe, launched by “Friends of Andrew McCabe,” hit the site Thursday to cover the bills for the former FBI deputy director’s legal defense fund. McCabe’s GoFundMe is not only trending, but it also raised a huge amount of […]

In 2018, political figures are crowdfunding money for legal fees and everyone’s OK with that. WTF?

A GoFundMe, launched by “Friends of Andrew McCabe,” hit the site Thursday to cover the bills for the former FBI deputy director’s legal defense fund.

McCabe’s GoFundMe is not only trending, but it also raised a huge amount of money in just a few hours: the funds reached $252,892 in as little as six hours. People have been donating so quickly that the campaign increased the goal to $250,000 after it capped its original $150,000 goal in less than four hours.

A large amount of the donations are relatively small, averaging from $10-100.

If McCabe keeps raising money this fast, he should probably run for something. Trying to raise $150k — hit over $100k within three hours.https://t.co/jhzyT7WWRo

Andrew McCabe’s FBI career was long, distinguished, and unblemished. He embraced the most daunting, difficult, and important challenges that the FBI and the country could assign to him over the past 21 years.

McCabe was fired by Attorney General Jeff Sessions two weeks ago, just 26 hours before retiring. McCabe’s pension benefits are in contempt, due to him being one day shy from its cut off requirement. Despite this, funds gathered from the GoFundMe will not go to benefit his retirement.

“No funds raised for the Andrew McCabe Legal Defense Fund will be used for anything beyond his defense of the allegations against him,” according to the crowdfunding page. Any leftover funds will be given to charity.

The GoFundMe also says that McCabe will “continue to fight for the pension and benefits he deserves, rather than accept any crowdfunding for that purpose.”

The funds will likely be used for representation in congressional inquiries. McCabe and his legal team haven’t released plans to sue for wrongful termination, but the GoFundMe writes “any potential lawsuits he might consider.”

McCabe is represented by former Department of Justice Inspector General Michael R. Bromwich. Bromwich tweeted that “Andy” is thankful for the support. “He got a raw deal and people know it.”

In 38 years as a lawyer and 24 years in private practice, I have rarely seen the kind of support Andy McCabe is getting. He got a raw deal and people know it. He deeply appreciates the support. https://t.co/8P65VE0ETW

Sessions let McCabe go after the Justice Department inspector general found he had shared sensitive information to the media and misled investigators, according to the Washington Post. The termination was also recommended by the FBI’s Office of Professional Responsibility.

]]>215742Jim Carrey Punks Trump With the Help of Some Markershttp://newscult.com/jim-carrey-punks-trump-with-the-help-of-some-markers/
Fri, 30 Mar 2018 18:15:50 +0000http://newscult.com/?p=215728Jim Carrey loves to paint; that’s something we all know. However, his involvement in political satire is not something that was such a known fact when thinking about the comedian. Drawing inspiration from Time‘s “Donald Trump after hours” story, where the magazine told the public that the president eats two scoops of ice cream for dessert, […]

Jim Carrey loves to paint; that’s something we all know. However, his involvement in political satire is not something that was such a known fact when thinking about the comedian. Drawing inspiration from Time‘s “Donald Trump after hours” story, where the magazine told the public that the president eats two scoops of ice cream for dessert, Carrey took advantage and brought that picture to life.

The actor’s latest art piece, which looks to have been drawn with markers, displays Trump wearing the bathrobe that he claimed not to own, being aroused by his post-meal snack.

“Dear Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery,” Carrey tweeted Thursday. “I know it’s early but I’d like to submit this as the official portrait of our 45th president, Donald J. Trump. It’s called, You Scream. I Scream. Will We Ever Stop Screaming?“

Dear Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery @NPG, I know it’s early but I’d like to submit this as the official portrait of our 45th President, Donald J. Trump. It’s called, 'You Scream. I Scream. Will We Ever Stop Screaming?' pic.twitter.com/LrCmlXXpv7

So Trump put forward a bill forbidding the use of taxpayer money to cover oil paintings of government officials Wednesday. Carrey thought he should audition for the job of portraying Trump with his piece. He should offer to donate it because I for one would love to see this hanging in the Smithsonian.

In fact, if they don’t appreciate the ice cream one, there’s no need to worry. Carrey has plenty of Trump pieces to choose from, including one featuring the president as the Wicked Witch of the West Wing.

Did anyone watch 60 minutes last night? Hell of a piece about a poor kid from Greece named Giannis Antetokounmpo who’s making it big in the NBA. America still has some magic. Pity you have to wade through so much cultural sewage to find it. ;^} pic.twitter.com/H4BTPcw8bu

They're saying the NRA took Russian money to support the Republican party in the last election. Maybe that's why Trump and his flying monkeys are so accommodating? Is Wayne LaPierre also Putin’s stooge — or just another run of the mill demon from hell? #BanTheNRApic.twitter.com/7r0J9NP2ng

]]>215728Stephen Colbert Takes a Page From Trump and Calls Out CNN for “Fake News”http://newscult.com/stephen-colbert-takes-page-trump-calls-cnn-fake-news/
Fri, 30 Mar 2018 17:15:30 +0000http://newscult.com/?p=215688Stephen Colbert gave mad props to our estimable Commander-in-Chief Donald Trump in his monologue Thursday night. Okay, that is not true, although he did make un-sarcastic usage of Donald Trump’s favorite phrase: “fake news,” applying it furiously to CNN and its error in reporting. Okay, again, he wasn’t furious exactly. But still, CNN accidentally referred to […]

Stephen Colbert gave madprops to our estimable Commander-in-Chief Donald Trump in his monologue Thursday night. Okay, that is not true, although he did make un-sarcastic usage of Donald Trump’s favorite phrase: “fake news,” applying it furiously to CNN and its error in reporting.

Okay, again, he wasn’t furious exactly. But still, CNN accidentally referred to his show as Saturday Night Live the other night. When CNN covered Dana Carvey’s appearance as newest White House employee John Bolton, the tragic mix-up took place.Yep, CNN confused his program with the sketch comedy behemoth, and that shit just don’t play with Stephen.

“I agree with Donald Trump about something. CNN lies,” Colbert said, as the audience froze.
“Hear me out,” he continued “[CNN’s] headline read ‘Look who’s Playing John Bolton on SNL.'” The crowd laughed. “Fake news!” Colbert said in his best Donald voice.

]]>215688U.S. Set to Request Details on All Visa Applicants’ Social Media Historyhttp://newscult.com/u-s-set-request-details-visa-applicants-social-media-history/
Fri, 30 Mar 2018 16:20:25 +0000http://newscult.com/?p=215743On Thursday, the Trump administration made its move following their emphasis on “extreme vetting” on their immigration policy by requiring all visa applicants who want to come to the United States to hand over five years of their social media history to the government. In addition to giving up their social media accounts, applicants are […]

On Thursday, the Trump administration made its move following their emphasis on “extreme vetting” on their immigration policy by requiring all visa applicants who want to come to the United States to hand over five years of their social media history to the government. In addition to giving up their social media accounts, applicants are also required to turn over their previous telephone numbers, email addresses, prior immigration violations, and any family history of involvement in terrorist activities.

According to the notices submitted by the State Department, the proposed new rule would affect almost 15 million applicants, including those who apply for legal permanent residency, as students, for business trips, or on vacation. Those exempt from this new rule are those applying for diplomatic and official visas. This action is an extension of efforts by the previous administration to inspect social media more closely after the 2015 San Bernardino terrorist attack.

The move is not expected to take effect immediately as they have to wait for sixty days for the public to comment on the move. Nevertheless, this proposed move is going to grab the attention of those critics who advocate privacy and civil liberties. Critics are already complaining this proposed new rule because not only is it invasive on privacy grounds but, it also effectively limits and slows down the process of immigration, making it harder and stressful to be accepted for a visa. Federal authorities, however, argued back by saying that this change is necessary for national security.

Although the U.S. government has expressed their desire and interest in examining the backgrounds of foreign travelers through social media histories, this proposed new rule is the first time which the administration is formally requiring all applicants to submit their social media information if they want to come to the U.S.

It was after the 2015 San Bernardino attack that placed greater attention on immigrants’ social media use after it was revealed that one of the attackers had advocated jihad in posts on her private social media account which authorities had failed to find before giving her authorization to enter the U.S.

The new move from the Trump administration does not include applicants turning over their passwords or access to their social media accounts even though then-Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly suggested that it was being considered last year.

]]>215743There’s No Hope: Trump Loses Yet Another Aide as Hope Hicks Leaves White Househttp://newscult.com/theres-no-hope-trump-loses-yet-another-aide-hope-hicks-leaves-white-house/
Fri, 30 Mar 2018 13:00:17 +0000http://newscult.com/?p=215622WASHINGTON (AP) — With a handshake and a presidential kiss on the cheek, Hope Hicks bid farewell to the White House, the press-shy communications director taking a rare moment in the spotlight on her final day in Donald Trump’s administration. The Thursday exit of the president’s most trusted aide, coming one day after yet another […]

WASHINGTON (AP) — With a handshake and a presidential kiss on the cheek, Hope Hicks bid farewell to the White House, the press-shy communications director taking a rare moment in the spotlight on her final day in Donald Trump’s administration.

The Thursday exit of the president’s most trusted aide, coming one day after yet another Cabinet departure, highlights continuing uncertainty among Trump aides and White House staff about who might be the next to go.

Hicks departed the administration on her own terms and was given a gracious goodbye by Trump outside the Oval Office in view of reporters. That stands in stark contrast to the White House treatment of David Shulkin, the Veterans Affairs secretary who was fired amid ethics questions and replaced by a White House physician who has no experience running a bureaucracy or working with veterans.

As Trump allies defended the choice of Navy Rear Adm. Ronny Jackson, scrutiny quickly shifted to a number of other Cabinet members facing ethics questions and with strained relationships with the president, as well as a White House chief of staff who has found his influence diminished. Trump aides and outside advisers suggested that other changes weren’t imminent, but no one could say how long that would last.

“I’ll have to get back to you on that,” said deputy press secretary Lindsay Walters when asked on Air Force One if Trump now had his ideal Cabinet.

White House officials are apprehensive about Hicks’ departure, given her unrivaled position in the president’s orbit. Despite her title as communications director, Hicks was more accurately described by White House officials as Trump’s right-hand-woman and media gatekeeper, providing needed doses of affirmation to the president and able to deliver bad news to him with few repercussions.

The internal jockeying to replace her — if Trump even chooses to do so — has featured backstabbing and planted news stories that, in turn, bash the leading candidates: Mercedes Schlapp, the White House strategic communications director, and Tony Sayegh, assistant secretary for public affairs at the Treasury Department.

Many close to the White House, however, expect senior adviser Kellyanne Conway or press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders to assume the role, at least temporarily. Sanders has grown close to the president since taking over the press secretary’s job after the resignation of Sean Spicer last summer — and has been spending more time in the Oval Office lately.

The job of communications director — which involves developing and executing the administration’s long-term messaging strategy — has never been a particularly important one to the president. Aides joke he is his own communications director, who upends carefully laid plans with a tweet or digression.

Trump, never disciplined, has taken to freelancing more of late, as he moves to surround himself with aides less likely to try to rein him in. A speech outside Cleveland on Thursday meant to be about infrastructure instead felt like a campaign rally. And he has broken free of more of the restraints placed upon him by chief of staff John Kelly.

Trump hired John Bolton as national security adviser last week over Kelly’s objections and didn’t include his chief of staff in the Oval Office meeting in which the job offer was extended. And Kelly, who frequently listens in on the president’s calls, was not on the call Trump made from the White House residence earlier this month during which, over staff objections, he congratulated Russian President Vladimir Putin on his re-election.

Though Kelly’s job did not appear to be in danger, Trump has mused to outside allies of late about setting a West Wing structure with no chief of staff, reminiscent of his Trump Tower operation.

Aides said controversies around Trump’s staff need to hit a certain decibel level to get the president’s attention.

In the case of Shulkin, who was found to have inappropriately accepted gifts and travel, his parting came as he was under fire from all corners, including GOP-leaning veterans groups and good-government watchdogs. And Trump himself vented to confidants that the questions surrounding Shulkin undermined his campaign promise to help veterans, according to three White House officials and outside advisers who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss personnel matters.

Officials said ethical questions swirling around other Cabinet members are not attracting the attention of the president in the same manner but caution that could change quickly.

Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson came under scrutiny after reports his agency was spending $31,000 for a new dining set. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt has faced questions about $25,000 spent on a soundproof “privacy booth” inside his office to prevent eavesdropping on his phone calls and another $9,000 on biometric locks.

White House ethics officials, directed by Kelly, have warned Carson, Pruitt and others that further negative attention could change the dynamic and send them packing. But another Cabinet member, Attorney General Jeff Sessions, may have inadvertently stepped into Trump’s line of fire this week.

Trump has been livid at Sessions for months for recusing himself from the Russia investigation, belittling him publicly and privately but not yet moving to dismiss him. But Sessions on Thursday appeared on the cover of Time magazine, Trump’s favorite publication.

Trump has been known to boast about his appearances on Time covers — fake ones have been installed at his golf courses — and was angry last year when former chief strategist Steve Bannon appeared on one. One Trump ally said the president has previously said, only half-jokingly, that he should appear on the cover every week.

]]>215622SOME of the ‘Sex and the City’ Cast Supports Cynthia Nixon’s Campaign for Governorhttp://newscult.com/sex-city-cast-supports-cynthia-nixons-campaign-governor/
Thu, 29 Mar 2018 15:45:12 +0000http://newscult.com/?p=215427Is it just me, or did something weird go down with the Sex and the City women that none of us know about? Between Kim Cattrall’s comments on Sarah Jessica Parker and her lackluster tweet about Cynthia Nixon’s campaign for governor of New York (she literally only said, “I support & respect any former colleague’s right to […]

Is it just me, or did something weird go down with the Sex and the City women that none of us know about?

Between Kim Cattrall’s comments on Sarah Jessica Parker and her lackluster tweet about Cynthia Nixon’s campaign for governor of New York (she literally only said, “I support & respect any former colleague’s right to make their own career choices”), it seems like they’re not quite as friendly as they were onscreen. Nonetheless, SJP declared her support for Nixon via Page Six and Instagram.

“Cynthia has been my friend and colleague since we were little girls. I look forward to talking to her about her New York state gubernatorial bid,” she said. She was more sentimental in her Instagram posting, writing:

“A mother
An activist
An advocate
A fighter
A NY’er
A dear friend
Running for Governor of our great state.
My sister on and off screen, you have my love, support and vote.”

Kristen Davis was similarly supportive on Instagram: “I am thrilled to support her and I know that she cares deeply about the issues facing all of us,” her caption read. “I’m so proud of her and I know she will work tirelessly to create change for all who need representation.”

The former television star plans to focus on New York public schools, health care, incarceration issues, and our broke-ass subway. Which is great and all, but I’m still sitting here wondering what the hell they did to Cattrall.

]]>215427Dana Carvey Presents His John Bolton Impression So That He Can Throw Mini-Shampoos and Staplers at Stephen Colberthttp://newscult.com/dana-carvey-presents-his-john-bolton-impression-so-that-he-can-throw-mini-shampoos-and-staplers-at-stephen-colbert/
Thu, 29 Mar 2018 15:20:53 +0000http://newscult.com/?p=215424There are are some worries that John Bolton, Trump’s new pick for National Security Advisor, is a bit too much of a warmonger. So Stephen Colbert invited Bolton on to last night’s Late Show to explain what he is all about. As you might have suspected if you read the headline, it wasn’t actually Bolton, but […]

There are are some worries that John Bolton, Trump’s new pick for National Security Advisor, is a bit too much of a warmonger. So Stephen Colbert invited Bolton on to last night’s Late Show to explain what he is all about.

As you might have suspected if you read the headline, it wasn’t actually Bolton, but rather legendary comedian Dana Carvey emerging from the shadows to present his sharpshooting impression.

There are some shades of Carvey’s legendary George H.W. Bush routine in his take on Bolton, what with the folksy finger-wagging, but mainly this bit focuses on General Snowball, aka Bolton’s mustache, which “gets engorged when he smells a war coming on.”

Check out the “poppywashing hogcock” below, and keep an eye out for what Carvey-Bolton has in store for a puppy:

]]>215424White House Claims Police Shootings are a “Local Matter”http://newscult.com/white-house-claims-police-shootings-local-matter/
Thu, 29 Mar 2018 14:00:31 +0000http://newscult.com/?p=215397MMMMMMMMkay…. Yet again, the White House decided it was a good idea to step away from the societal issue of police shootings. Specifically, the shootings of African Americans by the police with little or no reason. Press secretary Sarah Sanders, when asked about the Stephon Clark, a man who was fatally shot by Sacramento police […]

Yet again, the White House decided it was a good idea to step away from the societal issue of police shootings. Specifically, the shootings of African Americans by the police with little or no reason.

Press secretary Sarah Sanders, when asked about the Stephon Clark, a man who was fatally shot by Sacramento police earlier this month, said that police shootings are more of a local issue.

At the time of his shooting, Clark was unarmed. Meanwhile, bodycam footage shows the officers yelling “gun” multiple times. The officers shot at Clark 20 times. Police say Clark ran when a police helicopter arrived at the scene.

Sanders called the death a “terrible incident,” but:

“Certainly, we want to make sure all law enforcement is carrying out the letter of the law. The president is very supportive of law enforcement. But at the same time, in these specific cases and these specific instances, those will be left up to local authorities to make that determination and not something for the federal government to weigh into.”